Behind-the-scenes stories, photos, and videos from the company of productions at The 5th Avenue Theatre in downtown Seattle.

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

Meet the Parkers—And All of their Neighbors!

We are pleased to announce the cast for A Christmas Story: The Musical!, the 5th Avenue Theatre’s upcoming holiday production. The roster features an impressive array of Seattle area talent, as well as three actors from New York.

After a coast-to-coast search that included auditions in New York, Seattle and Los Angeles, as well as video submissions from across the country, Olympia, Washington-based actor Clarke Hallum (left) was chosen to play the lead role of Ralphie Parker. The 11-year-old Hallum has most recently appeared at the Capital Playhouse as Charlie in Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.

“I’m proud, but not surprised that, after a nationwide search, we found our Ralphie right here in the Pacific Northwest,”

says 5th Avenue Theatre Executive Producer and Artistic Director David Armstrong. “Casting Clarke -- as well as the many other children who will be featured in this exciting production -- says a lot about the incredible talent pool of performers of all ages who live here in the Puget Sound.”

The adults in A Christmas Story: The Musical! include several familiar faces, as well as performers new to 5th Avenue audiences. The principals are John Bolton (The Old Man), Anne Allgood (Mother), and Frank Corrado (Jean Shepherd). Featured performers include Carol Swarbrick (Miss Shields), Orville Mendoza (Elf/Waiter), Eric Polani Jensen (Pierre), and Matt Wolfe (Santa).

The rest of the children in the cast have also primarily been drawn from the Puget Sound area. They include Keenan Barr (Grover Dill), Ashton Herrild (Scut Farkus), Matthew Lewis (Randy Parker), and Dexter Johnson (Flick). River Aguirre (Schwartz) joins us from New York. The ensemble includes Walker Caplan, Wilder Cufley, Larson Eernissee, Drea Gordon, Shaye Hodgins, Olivia Mora, Erich W. Schleck, Cameron Washington, and Mira Wellington.

More About the CastJohn Bolton is a New York-based actor who has originated roles in several Broadway productions including Curtains and Spamalot. Anne Allgood has performed locally at ACT, Seattle Rep, Intiman, Village Theatre, and of course at The 5th, where she was seen in a bravura turn as The Old Woman in last season’s critically-acclaimed Candide. Frank Corrado, a veteran of the Seattle theater scene, last appeared at The 5th Avenue in White Christmas as General Waverly. He is joined by Carol Swarbrick, who also appeared in White Christmas as Martha Watson. Orville Mendoza is based in New York and his work has included a Drama Desk-nominated performance in Adrift In Macao. Eric Polani Jensen, another 5th Avenue regular, was last seen behind an astonishing moustache as The Governor in Candide. And Matt Wolfe graced our stage in Catch Me if You Can.